State track and field: Boys’ glance

DES MOINES - Taking a peek at the top individuals and team races in the boys' portion of the state track and field meet Thursday through Saturday at Drake Stadium.

CLASS 4A

Individuals to watch - Ryan Schweizer, a junior at West Des Moines Dowling, was the most outstanding male performer at the Drake Relays four weeks ago, and figures to have another big weekend. He has qualified in the 800 (in which he is top-seeded) as well as the 1,600, 3,200 and medley relay. Waukee has elite hurdlers in Nick Wessels and Pat Gray, and could sweep the highs, the lows and the shuttle. Jalen Rima of Cedar Rapids Prairie enters as the top seed in the 200 and 400. Cedar Rapids Kennedy is traditionally strong in the field events, and is seeded to score in all of them behind jumper Willie Rhoads and throwers Jackson Coker and Dalles Jacobus.

Tracking the team race - The big-school race is tricky to handicap. If you go by season-best performances, Waukee and Johnston look strongest. Based on district efforts, it's Ames and Waukee. So Waukee is the common denominator, as well as the defending champion. With district results as the guide, the Warriors are seeded to score in 11 events, seven in which they're No. 1 or No. 2. That's tough to beat. Ames is the top seed in the 3,200 relay and the medley, and if the Little Cyclones are close after two days, they're poised for a big Saturday. Cedar Falls also could put on a big late push; Denison Harrington is favored in Saturday's 100, and the Tigers could win the final two relays. Kennedy is a top-five hopeful; the Cougars could score more than 35 points in the field events.

How they'll finish - 1. Waukee, 2. Ames, 3. Cedar Falls, 4. West Des Moines Valley, 5. Cedar Rapids Kennedy.

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CLASS 3A

Individuals to watch - Thomas Pollard of Gilbert is one of the state's all-time greats in distance running, and makes his finale this weekend before heading to Iowa State. He's the favorite in the 1,600 and 3,200 - he ran the latter in 8:50 at state a year ago. Center Point-Urbana's Josh Yeager will be his top competition. Solon's Connor Ham will pursue another title in the 110 hurdles and the 200, and Mount Pleasant has a hurding ace of its own in Cole Phillips. Algona has a corner on the market in the middle distances - Esden Carroll, Bo Hjelle and Cameron Crosser are the top seeds in the 400, 800 and 400 hurdles.

Tracking the team race - Good luck with this one. At least six teams harbor championship dreams, including area squads Center Point-Urbana and Solon (the defending champion). Give an ever-so-slight edge, for now, to Algona and Mount Pleasant, both of which are seeded No. 1 in three events. Algona's strength is the middle distances; Mount Pleasant's power lies in the sprints and hurdles. Pella is seeded to score in the most events (nine) of any of the contenders, and if the Dutch can surpass their seeds, they could be a handful. CPU and Solon can enter the picture if they can get significant contribution from those other than Yeager and Ham, respectively.

How they'll finish - 1. Algona, 2. Mount Pleasant, 3. Center Point-Urbana, 4. Pella, 5. Knoxville.

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CLASS 2A

Individuals to watch - Many of the 2A stars are stockpiled by the two teams that stand above the rest - West Burlington-Notre Dame and Kingsley-Pierson/Woodbury Central. WB-ND is led by 7-foot high-jumper Jeff Giannettino and sprinter Isaiah Trousil, the top seed in the 100-meter dash. KP-WC counters with its middle-distance crew, led by top 800 seed Nic Scheelhaase. Levi Paulsen is the favorite in the discus, thanks to a 174-foot effort at districts. The area's best hope for a gold rush is Tipton distance runner Eric Lenz, who is the top seed in the 3,200 and No. 3 in the 1,600.

Tracking the team race - This class has all the looks of a dual. West Burlington-Notre Dame flexed its muscles at the Drake Relays, more than holding its own against the big schools. The Falcons looked like a lock to win the 2A title throughout most of the season, but Kingsley-Pierson/Woodbury Central has closed the gap, and it projects as a dead heat after the district results came in. Both teams lead 2A in four events - WB-ND in the 100, high jump and 400- and 800-meter relays, KP-WC in the 800, discus and 1,600- and 3,200-meter relays. Both figure for double placement in two events, and could score in the vicinity of 80 points. Key head-to-head events between the two are in the 400 on Thursday and the discus and 800 relay on Friday.

How they'll finish - 1. West Burlington-Notre Dame, 2. Kingsley-Pierson/Woodbury Central, 3. Camanche, 4. Monticello, 5. Albia.

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CLASS 1A

Individuals to watch - Korby Sander of Belmond-Klemme enters as the top seed in the 100 and 200. Mitchell Fritz is the key link in Alta-Aurelia's strong middle-distance relays (seeded No. 1 in the 3,200-meter relay and the medley and No. 2 in the 1,600 relay) and figures to place high in the 400. Lisbon possesses a distance star in T.J. Krob and an elite thrower in defending shot put champion Keegan Tritle. Brett Prenger of Lawton-Bronson is the leader in the 400 and a staple on his team's relays.

Tracking the team race - The points are spread so thin and balanced in the small-school class that 40 points just might win it. The list of contenders is long. A mishap will ruin a hopeful's chance, and a surprise or two could lift somebody over the top. Lawton-Bronson entered the district meet as the best team in 1A, then Pekin and Belmond-Klemme came out of last week as the top projected scorers. Area teams Lisbon, Lone Tree and Belle Plaine are in the mix, as well. This class, like 3A, is a mystery that won't be solved until Saturday afternoon.

How they'll finish - 1. Lawton-Bronson, 2. Lisbon, 3. Pekin, 4. Mount Ayr, 5. Belmond-Klemme.

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com